In Partnership, organic supplement brand, The Real Thing and Urban Harvest, have installed five exceptional organic gardens at under-resourced schools. In our search for partners and projects that will have maximum reach and positive impact on communities, we have selected Camp Joy Rehabilitation Centre as our most recent beneficiary. 

 

In a community where gangsterism, gun violence, and drugs are threatening lives, Camp Joy in Strandfontein is dedicated to offering holistic rehabilitation and re-integration services for men and women coming out of gangs and drug addiction. The aim of the 450m2 organic garden is to educate, feed and psychologically transform the men and women of Camp Joy, keeping them out of the crime cycle, by learning important practical skills associated with organic farming and cooking as well as socio-emotional skills like patience, nurture and a sense of community responsibility. 

 

David Allen from The Real Thing has defined the Camp Joy garden as a place for the recipients to “feed their bodies with organic, highly nutritious food, to feed their minds with the learnings and activities, to feed their souls through connection and community. It should be a safe green sanctuary that re-ignites a spiritual connection, and a deep connection to the wonder of nature.” 

 

This project would not be complete without the outstanding leadership of Pastor Engel, the positive spirit and programs of The Art of Living Foundation and collaboration of the surrounding Strandfontein community. With open minds and big hearts -TOGETHER we've been sowing seeds of hope.

 

Our Role: We partnered with The Real Thing and Urban Harvest to document the inauguration of the Food Garden at Camp Joy.